Self-adjustable shirt collar

ABSTRACT

A self-adjustable shirt collar is described in which the neckbank of the collar comprises inner and outer bands with aligned button holes therein for engagement by the collar button on the neckband, an elastic strip being provided anchored in the inner and outer bands and spanning part of the length of the button hole for accomodation for the wearer to changes in neck size or neckband length.

[ .Aug. 13, 1974 United States Patent 1191 Berger SELF-ADJUSTABLE SHIRT COLLAR 2,893,012 7/1959 2/141 R [76] Inventor: SamuelBerger, Apt D20 4401 3,035,271 5/1962 2/128 Conshohocken Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19131 Primary Examiner-James R. Boler Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Zachary T. Wobensmith,

[22] Filed: May 24, 1973 2nd; Zachary T. Wobensmith, Ill

Appl. No.: 363,404

[57] ABSTRACT A self-adjustable shirt collar is described in which the 5411, 453 neckbank of the collar comprises inner and outer 2/128 141 R 141 A, 7 bands with aligned button holes therein for engage- 2/93 9 0 ment by the collar button on the neckband, an elastic strip being provided anchored in the inner and outer [52] US. Cl. [51] Int. [58] Field of Search........

bands and spanning part of the length of the button hole for accomodation for the wearer to changes in neck size or neckband length.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,963,004 6/1934 Tucker............ ........i...... 2/141 R X 1,983,309 12/1934 Rubinstein.............................. 2/127 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SELF-ADJUSTABLE SHIRT COLLAR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to adjustable shirt collar bands for collars permanently attached to shirts.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Difficulties have been encountered by many persons in connection with maintaining a comfortable fit of the neckband of a shirt collar permanently attached to a shirt.

The accommodation may be required because of shrinkage of the neckband with repeated washing so that the neckband is shortened. Increase in the neck circumference of the wearer due to increase in weight may give rise to the problem.

Various solutions to the problem have been proposed. It has been suggested to provide a series of spaced button holes for selective insertion of the shirt collar button.

In my prior US. Pat. No. 3,142,843 an adjustable collar button was proposed but the cost of manufacture was high.

Snyder, in US. Pat. No. 1,079,800 makes provision for elastic webbing interiorly of the button holes with openings formed in the webbing to permit expansion of the webbing opening for insertion of the button, the button being retained by contraction of the elastic webbing opening. No provision was made for linear expansion when the garment was buttoned.

Schafer, in US. Pat. No. 3,035,271 shows a shirt collar fastening means in which an elongated button hole has a flexible transverse partition at the center to divide the slot into a pair of corresponding openings or button holes. In one form the flexible partition is of cordage, with its ends secured by stitchings. In the other form a round rubber core with an enclosing sleeve, capable of greater stretch than the cordage, is secured at its ends by stitching. The securing of cords of this nature is unreliable because of the small cross section available for fastening to the collar bands.

The structures heretofore proposed have various shortcomings from the viewpoint of cost and reliability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention the neckband of a shirt collar has a flat elastic band secured along its ends transversely of the button hole openings in the neckband to permit a limited resilient increase in size of the button hole thereby to provide a self-adjustable shirt collar.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a self-adjustable shirt collar which is simple in construction, and reliable in its operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a self adjustable shirt collar employing a resilient insert which can be firmly anchored in place, thereby enhancing the reliability of action.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a shirt having a selfadjustable collar in accordance with the invention embodied therein;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, somewhat enlarged, and with parts broken away to show the details of construction.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings a fragmentary portion 10 of a shirt of well known type is illustrated with overlapped front portions 11 and 12, with a plurality of buttons 13 on front portion 11 engaged in button holes 14 in the other front portion 12 in a well known manner.

The collar 16, of any desired shape, has its inner margin secured between the upper margins of an inner neck band 17 and an outer neck band 18, the upper part of the shirt 10 being secured between the lower margins of the inner and outer neck bands 17 and 18. An interposed liner 19 is preferably provided to impart adequate body. The neckbands l7 and 18, the shirt 10, the collar 16 and the liner 19 can be secured, with the margins 17a and 18a of the neckbands 17 and 18 inturned, by a line of stitches 20.

Prior to securing the neckbands 17 and 18, a pair of horizontal button holes 21 and 22 are provided therein, for alignment in assembled condition of the neckbands 17 and 18, and the edging of one of these button holes can engage contiguous portions of the liner 19.

A strip 25 of elastic webbing is inserted vertically between the neckbands l7 and 18 in intersecting relation to the button holes 21 and 22 with one exposed side marginal edge 26 at about the middle of the buttonholes 21 and 22. It will be noted that the strip 25 of webbing has a width of a multiplicity of times the thickness.

The strip 25 of webbing is secured inwardly of its ends to the neckbands l7 and 18 in any desired manner and this may be effected by the line of stitches 20. A button 28 is secured by thread shank 29 to the neckbands 17 and 18 for engagement in the aligned button holes 21 and 22.

In use the button 28 is inserted in the button holes 21 and 22 and the thread shank 29 engages the marginal edge 26 of the webbing 25.

Upon increase of tension on the neckbands 17 and 18 because of the neck growth or because of shrinkage, the thread shank 29 engages the edge 26 which resiliently yields to accomodate the increase in dimension which is effective. Self-adjustment of the shirt collar is thus continuously available.

I claim:

1. In a shirt having overlapping front portion, a collar and a neckband portion the improvement comprising a button on a shank on a neckband portion and a button hole on said neckband portion for engagement by said button, and

a resilient web in strip form having a width of a multiplicity of times its thickness in intersecting relation to said button hole intermediate its ends and having a side edge intermediate the ends of the button hole for engagement by said shank.

2. The combination defined in clam 1 in which said web is secured at its ends to said neckband portion by stitching.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said neckband portion comprises an inner and an outer neckband with aligned button holes for engagement by said button.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 in which said collar has its inner edge between said inner and outer neckbands and in secured relation thereto.

5. The combination defined in claim 3 in which said web is interposed between said inner and outer neckbands. 6. The combination defined in claim 2 in which said stitching extends along said neckband portion,

and said collar has a marginal edge secured to said neckband portion by said stitching. 

1. In a shirt having overlapping front portion, a collar and a neckband portion the improvement comprising a button on a shank on a neckband portion and a button hole on said neckband portion for engagement by said button, and a resilient web in strip form having a width of a multiplicity of times its thickness in intersecting relation to said button hole intermediate its ends and having a side edge intermediate the ends of the button hole for engagement by said shank.
 2. The combination defined in clam 1 in which said web is secured at its ends to said neckband portion by stitching.
 3. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said neckband portion comprises an inner and an outer neckband with aligned button holes for engagement by said button.
 4. The combination defined in claim 3 in which said collar has its inner edge between said inner and outer neckbands and in secured relation thereto.
 5. The combination defined in claim 3 in which said web is interposed between said inner and outer neckbands.
 6. The combination defined in claim 2 in which said stitching extends along said neckband portion, and saId collar has a marginal edge secured to said neckband portion by said stitching. 